Basic Biographical Details

Name:

Frank James Connell

Designation:

Architect

Born:

23 April 1910

Died:

19 October 1992

Bio Notes:

Frank James Connell was born on 23 May 1910, the son of Ernest Oldham Connell, medical practitioner and his wife. He commenced his studies at Edinburgh University where he achieved first-class marks in the first year of the Fine Arts class in June 1928. He then proceeded to Cambridge University, where he graduated BA (Hons) in the Mechanical Sciences tripos in 1930 and BA in architectural subjects in 1932. He returned to Edinburgh thereafter, studying at the College of Art. In June 1934 he was awarded the RIAS Rutland Prize for working drawings and in August that year he visited Scandinavia, including Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, Paimio and Abo, as well as Copenhagen and Hamburg. In June 1935 he obtained his diploma and an exemption from the RIBA final exam, and the following month he passed the Professional Practice exam. He was admitted ARIBA on 2 December that year, his proposers being Arthur Forman Balfour Paul, John Begg of Edinburgh College of Art, and Harold Tomlinson of the University of Cambridge School of Architecture, who wrote in his supporting statement: 'He was supervised by me at Cambridge in Architecture, after taking a Tripos in Engineering. His earlier training in Engineering was of great assistance to a particularly apt pupil. I have watched his brilliant later career with interest.' By that time Connell had joined the practice of Leslie Grahame-Thomson, who took him into partnership in late 1937. He had a large hand in the Caledonian Insurance Building.

Connell was briefly the editor of the RIAS Quarterly from January 1939 but when he was called up this must have ended, as did the partnership with Grahame-Thomson. After the war Connell joined the staff of the Scottish Office as an architect-planner, ending his career as a Regional Planning Officer. He retired from this post on 28 February 1971 and resigned his RIBA membership in September that year, stating that he intended to devote his time to theological research rather than architecture.

He died in Queensberry House Hospital in Edinburgh on 19 October 1992, survived by his wife, Anne Regiaulde Forsyth, and at least one son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:

Address

Type

Date from

Date to

Notes

21, Warriston Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland

Private

Before 1935

After 1939

6, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland

Business

Before 1937

c. 1940

75, Trinity Road, Edinburgh, Scotland

Private

1950 *

After 1960

5, Murrayfield Avenue, Edinburgh, Scotland

Private

Before 1965 *

After 1971

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):